The Police Inspector's Town Hall meeting was held at New Hope Temple Baptist Church and was well attended by area residents who presented their concerns without reservation.  Inspector Joe Mooney fielded questions from the audience; 3rd District Captain Joe McDowell responded to questions more specific to our neighborhood.
 
Police Department representatives from Districts 1, 4 and 17 were also in attendance.  Other officers were available to assist in recording incident complaints directly from the floor; among them was Officer Ace Delgado, our community relations officer.
 
Resident concerns ranged from parking citations to curfew violations to easy gun accessibility.  Neighbors should be aware that, as reported in a previous PDAC report, the PPD has relinquished much of its responsibility for parking violation citations to the Parking Authority where it belongs.  Residents are once again reminded to lock their cars and not leave items in the car that are visible to anyone passing by due to a returning increase in vandalism and/or theft.
 
Neighbors also reported a family or two of raccoons and oppossums; our community officer will look into this matter and get back with a solution. 
 
It is hoped that increased foot patrol and the new 3-1-1 system (due in September?) will help to better handle some of the problems that have been troubling our residents.
 
Some of those in attendance expressed their appreciation of a stretched-thin Police Department with a plain old "thanks!" 
 
 
submitted by Patricia Cephas, HEC's 3rd Dist. PDAC rep